Knox Homecoming Weekend Celebrates Community and Connections

Over 1,000 Guests Flock to Campus to Share Memories and Experiences

Knox College pride filled the air as the College welcomed over 1,000 alumni, parents, and friends to campus for 2026 Homecoming Weekend, October 22-25.

“I figured that there weren’t going to be many more Reunions after the 60th one, and so I figured if I didn’t come now, I wouldn’t have anybody that I can revisit things with,” joked Sam Newhouse ’66, who was visiting campus for the first time since he graduated. “My life has been pretty intense, so I never have been able to get back for whatever reason, so I knew if I could, I had to come.”

Knox alumni were eager to see old friends, make new ones, and celebrate community and connections.

“It’s so wonderful to see so many of you back on campus with alumni, family, and friends; we’ve got nearly 1000 members of our community back this weekend,” Knox College President C. Andrew McGadney said during the annual Homecoming Convocation. “We have more than 600 alumni on campus and more than 20 of those are also Knox parents.”

One of the weekend’s highlights was the Class of 1976 50-year Reunion, led by co-chairs George Pearce ’76, Ann Feldman Perille ’76, and Keith Maskus ’76.

“When I started deliberating over whether or not to attend the Knox reunion I thought of it as a celebration of my graduation 50 years ago,” Ellen Jones McNair ’76 said. “There were so many fabulous opportunities to engage with other alums and students! I realized over the course of the weekend that it was also a celebration of the amazing liberal arts foundation we were given by Knox, the rich and varied lives we all live and the contributions that Knox grads make in the world.”

Alumni came from as far away as Malaysia and Belgium and as close as blocks away from Old Main. Both young and old returned to their alma mater, with graduates from 1954 to 2026 coming home for a weekend of fellowship, camaraderie, and storytelling.

“Our theme for this year’s Homecoming is Celebrating Community and Connections, which I think encompasses the true beauty of being here and gathered on the campus here in Galesburg,” McGadney said. “This weekend is a time to celebrate reunions and enduring friendships with classmates, catch up with beloved faculty and staff members, connect with Knox students here on campus, and most importantly, make new connections across generations of Knox community members.”

Abundant sunshine and warmth, both from the weather and the Knox community, made it a perfect weekend to gather, tour campus, and take part in all that the College has to offer, while reminding everyone what, after all these years, continues to make Knox a special place. The College took advantage of the glorious weather, hosting a parade of Reunion classes. The procession began at the Homecoming Hub tent south of the Gizmo Cafe and ended at Kresge Recital Hall inside the Ford Center for the Fine Arts for Homecoming Convocation. Alumni and Knox Service Awards were presented during Convocation.

“You know I come back and see friends and we pick up like it’s still 1973,” said winner of the 50 Year Club Scroll of Honor Elizabeth Cernota Clark ’73. “It doesn’t change that much; the feeling is wonderful to be back here. I love the whole place, and it’s wonderful to see the changes.”

Throughout the weekend, alumni, friends, and family of Knox students, faculty, and staff had plenty to do, with more than 100 events taking place. Everything from food trucks, luncheons, and tailgating, to football, men’s and women’s soccer, tours, music showcases, art displays, lectures, panels, Hall of Fame inductions, and dedications gave everyone a chance to pack the Knox experience into one weekend.

“There are powerful memories and powerful emotions,” Alumni Achievement Award winner Michael Tweedle ’73 said. “The memories are not something you think about while you’re running and busy in your career. I think about it once a year; now I think about it more often, and I come back for those wonderful memories. You learn so much when you’re here; these are foundational moments that stick with you.”

“I could not have imagined a better weekend than the one we recently enjoyed at our 50th class Reunion!” Jones McNair added “Everyone was fully engaged—from participation in the Kazoo band, founded by our class, to taking classes to meaningful library exhibits and visits to the farm, Green Oaks and the planetarium. I especially appreciated the open forum with the College leadership and my personalized tour of the new Whitcomb Art Center. What a remarkable opportunity to re-engage with the people and places—and the mindset—of the institution that launched us. I couldn’t be prouder.”

To see more pictures from Homecoming 2026, please visit the Knox College Flickr page.